St. Cloud Area School District Selects New Superintendent

(KNSI) – The St. Cloud Area School District has selected its next superintendent and the first woman to lead District 742. Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Dr. Laurie Putnam was offered the job on Wednesday morning by a unanimous vote from the school board. Putnam has accepted the position, pending contract negotiations.

Putnam talked about why she wanted to be the next superintendent.

“I didn’t want to go anywhere else. I love this community. I have been in Minnesota since 1999 and in St. Cloud since 2005. I’ve raised my children here and my children are in our schools.”

She says she hopes to keep building on the district’s collaborative culture and making sure every student feels welcome and is successful at learning.

“Certainly, we can improve on our achievement and our graduation rates. We have incredibly gifted and talented teachers and staff, and every one of our students can achieve at the highest levels.”

Putnam says she’s committed to improving students’ lives inside the classroom and beyond by setting goals.

“Making clear what our expectations are for both learning and behavior, and then having the response and the structures in place to help our students live to those expectations. I’m a firm believer that when we hold high standards and high expectations, whether it’s for students or our staff, or ourselves, we rise to those expectations.”

Putnam has been in education for 21 years and started in the Minneapolis school district in 2000. Putnam has worked for District 742 at South Jr. High in St. Cloud, Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph and as Assistant Superintendent. She’s originally from Maine and earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, her master’s degree in education from the University of Maine Orono, she received her K-12 administrative license from Hamline University in St. Paul and she got her doctoral degree in K-12 administration at St. Cloud State University.

A statement from the district says the school Board looks forward to working with both Superintendent Willie Jett and Dr. Putnam to ensure a smooth leadership transition. Putnam is taking over at the start of the 2022-2023 school year for Jett. Superintendent Jett announced his retirement last month.

At one point, St. Cloud had Lenore Janman as an interim superintendent, but Putnam is the first woman hired for the position permanently.

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